LA FONTAINE, Jean de (1621–1695); OUDRY, Jean-Baptiste (1686–1755). Fables choisies, mises en vers. Paris: Desaint & Saillant and Durand, 1755–59.

First edition of “One of the most ambitious and success of all illustrated books” (Ray). Oudry's sketches for La Fontaine's Fables were executed for his own enjoyment between 1729 and 1735. They were purchased by the publisher Montenault, who asked Cochin to take charge of their transformation into finished prints. Cochin redrew the original designs, improving the figures and backgrounds and supplying precise lines for the engravers. The final result was thus their dual achievement. Oudry's images were among the most influential of all contemporary artistic creations, inspiring imitations in media as varied as Beauvais tapestry, porcelain and furniture. Benezit VI:463; Cohen/de Ricci 548-550; Ray French 5; Rochambeau 86; Sander 1065.

Four volumes, folio (457 × 320mm). Engraved frontispiece portrait of Oudry by Tardieu after Lagrilliere, engraved portrait of La Fontaine by Cochin fils after Oudry and 275 plates by Cochin, Tardieu, Prevost, Chedel, Lempreur and others after Oudry, woodcut title-page vignettes, woodcut tailpieces, half-titles (occasional light offsetting and light spotting). Contemporary French red crushed morocco, covers ruled in gold with gold-tooled floral cornerpieces, spine lettered in gold with gold-tooled compartments, board edges ruled in gold, dentelles in gold on turn-ins, edges gilt, marbled endleaves (light scratches, rubbed at extremities). Provenance: Bibliothèque du Comte Vilain XIIII (18th-century label) – removed bookplate.